4.2 Kihon (basic cutting on the opponent)

Kihon includes basic attacking techniques often involving an opponent and is absolutely fundamental to our kendo training. Beauty in kendo comes from our kihon training – without kihon there can be no beauty in kendo.

Kihon involves countless repetitions of basic attacking and cutting techniques during which we strive to improve our basics, the posture, the footwork, the cut, the kiai etc. Whilst kihon can sometimes appear repetitive and boring, it is only through dedication to this phase of our training that we can make any significant progress.